Buying a conservatory? Here’s our top ten tips

A conservatory is a fantastic addition to any home. Not only can it add real value to your home, but it also provides you with extra space, comfort, and somewhere to relax with your friends and family. The problem is how do you start the process and ensure that you get value for money?

Read our top ten tips below:

1. Always base your measurements on the internal floor area when purchasing your conservatory, and bear in mind that many suppliers will quote sizes based on the external sizes. Internal width can be as much as 21 inches less than external width if you take into account cavity wall.
   
2. Always mark out your conservatory area manually before ordering your conservatory.  This can be carried out successfully with some string and a few pegs.
   
3. Don’t be tempted to go with the cheapest quote. Unless you have good reason to be confident that they can provide you with what you want, it is rarely a good idea.
   
4. Build a contingency of about 10% into your budget. Often projects can go over, or you may decide to add in some extras down the line.
   
5. Do not go for cheapest conservatory you can find. A conservatory is an investment and should last you for a long time. To ensure that you get quality make sure you buy the best conservatory you can afford.
   
6. Do not be tempted to lay your central heating pipes in concrete flooring. This can cause massive long term problems, and will not be approved by building regulations. Instead make sure you insulated the pipes by building timber sections into the wet concrete.
   
7. Always check with your local authority whether planning permission is needed. In many areas it is not necessary, but if you carry out the build without checking you could have problems selling your home down the line.
   
8. Try to match your conservatory seamlessly with your home in terms of brickwork, colours and style.
   
9. If you are looking for a design that is a bit out of the ordinary, make sure you get a plan drawn up by an architect first.
   
10. If possible ask to see a portfolio of the supplier and the company carrying out the work. Most reputable companies make it a priority to build a showcase to show to potential customers. If one is not available it can raise concerns.

Building a conservatory is a long term investment and can provide you with added comfort for years to come. However, it is crucial that you know the potential risks and that you research the project in detail before proceeding. Follow the tips above and it should help your project run smoothly from start to finish. ARI Design can manage your conservatory project from start to finish. We provide architectural services to the following areas – architects Leicester, architects Leicestershire, architects Coventry, architects Warwickshire, architects Milton Keynes.